We cannot believe that the Chief Constable of Cleveland Sean Price wants heroin to be administered to addicts through the NHS as a way of cutting crime (News, 13.6.05). It seems to us if you cannot beat them, join them.

We would like to know if these addicts commit further crimes or even murder, you cannot blame the drug dealers but the NHS.

We thought the NHS was there to save lives not destroy them. We have enough problems with alcohol-fuelled offences without giving addicts free heroin.

What next? When people commit robbery should we just give them the CDs, clothes, whatever?

This is an insult to the decent law abiding people of Cleveland. Soft on crime, soft on the causes of crime.